Where are the Leaders?

Ps Wilson

Hope Brisbane

21st November 2010

*Judges 6:11-17: The angel of the Lord came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."
"But sir," Gideon replied, "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, "Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."
The Lord turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel our of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"
"But Lord, " Gideon said, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."
The Lord answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together."
Gideon replied, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that is it really you talking to me.


*We need to know other cultures to connect with them
*We need leaders to step up and grow
*The key or solution is the church
*God was looking for a deliverer - Gideon

1. Challenge of the Survivor (v11)
*Why is Gideon threshing wheat in the winepress to keep him from the Midianites?
*Do we feel that sometimes we do things just to get through the day? That was Gideon.
*The last thing on our mind is to take on more leadership roles
*When everyone wants to survive, there will be no leaders
*If we do things the same way, nothing is going to change
*Nothing will be done if we just talk about it

Ways to help us rise up!
2. The Power of New Perspectives (v12-16)
*Our perspective is so important. The word of God changes our perspective
*If we don't believe, we don't claim
*Many Christians don't know the benefits of Christianity
*God wants us to understand what he really wants
*What we fail to believe is often what we fail to have

Our Perspective of God (v13,16)
*Luke 12:6-7: Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

*Matthew 9:36: When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

*God speak to Gideon and change his perspective

Our Own Perspective (v14,16)
*Many lives are simply stuck in the land of survival simply because of a poor self image
*People often remain in poverty and disempowerment, not because they lack opportunities but because they lack the right perspective
*The word of God can help them gain a good perspective of themselves
*Judges 6:12: When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior."


3. The Effect of Divine Encounter (v16-17)
Fresh Purpose (v16)
*Something was happening to Gideon
*He did not say "not me" (to reject) but he said "wait"
*If we don't allow God's perspective to touch our perspective, there will be no change
*Gideon's perspective began to change
*Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

*God wants to reprogram our old stories which says we can't do certain things

Fresh Favour (v17)
*We think we can rise up because God is not there, but God is here
*We should rise up in all forms for our churches, communities and reach a legacy.



**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**